Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship

The Swiss government through the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) offers Swiss Government Excellenece Scholarships to international students who wish to undertake postgraduate, doctoral or research courses in Switzerland. There are two types of scholarships available every year:

University scholarships (Swiss universities, Federal Institutes of Technology, as well as Universities of Applied Sciences)

Arts scholarships (schools of music and fine arts, only for a limited number of countries)

The Swiss government offers three major types of scholarshipsto international students who wish to study in various courses in Switzerland. They are:

1. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships: Research Scholarships

The aim of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to outstanding students who take up research in realm of PhD or medical specialisation in one of the:

a) Ten Swiss public universities such as:

University of Basel

University of Bern

University of Fribourg

University of Geneva

University of Lausanne

University of Lucerne

University of NeuchÃ¢tel

University of St.Gallen

University of Zurich

University of Lugano

b) Two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ)

c) Public teaching and research institutes

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)

Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP)

Institut universitaire Kurt BÃ¶sch

d) Universities of Applied Sciences

University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland

Bern University of Applied Sciences

University of Applied Sciences Northwest Switzerland

University of applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland

Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

The ZÃ¼rcher Fachhochschule

Eligibility criteria to apply for Swiss Government Research Scholarships

The candidate must hold a Master’s or equivalent degree

The applicant must not be above the age of 35 years during the time of application

The applicants who have been in Switzerland for more than one year during the time of application are not eligible to apply for the scholarship

Along with the application, the applicant must provide a letter from a professor of the institute saying that he/she is willing to supervise the student

The candidate must submit a research proposal along with the application

The candidate must have the necessary language skills to carry his/her research in the country

The candidates who have already benefitted from the Swiss Government scholarships are not eligible to apply

Selection criteria for Swiss Government Research Scholarship

The following factors are considered while selecting the final award holders for the Swiss Government Research Scholarships:

The candidate’s academic profile and research capacity

The originality and methodology of the research proposal

The quality of supervision and the chances of future academic cooperation

How to apply for Swiss Government Research Scholarships

The candidates can obtain the application form from the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi by an e-mail. The candidates must submit three hard copies of the application form along with the supporting documents before the given deadline.

Application checklist for Swiss Government Research Scholarships

The completed application form with typed details. Handwritten application forms are not accepted

Certified copy of the academic transcripts and degree certificates

Two letters of recommendation from the professors

Research proposal

CV

A motivation letter of two pages

Copy of passport

Health certificate

A copy of the letter from the professor of the Swiss university stating that he/she is willing to supervise the candidate

Scholarship value

Swiss Government Research Scholarship is a full scholarship provided for maximum 12 months. The scholarship value includes:

A monthly payment of 1920 Swiss Francs

Exemption from tuition fee

Mandatory Swiss Health insurance paid by the FCS

Money for to and fro air tickets

Special 300 Swiss Francs housing allowance

One year half transportation fare

Counseling and various trips, dinners and sigh-seeing tours organized for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders